islamic radicalization in new jersey · 2015-03-24 · 1 islamic radicalization in new jersey blake...

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Islamic Radicalization in New Jersey

Blake Fleisher, (Research Assistant, ICT)

Spring 2015

* The views expressed in this publication are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the

International Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT).

ABSTRACT

This paper is designed to provide an overview of Islamic radicalization in the state of

New Jersey. It is part of ICT’s Islamic Radicalization Index (IRI) and follows a

similar structure to other papers in the index. This report is part of a larger project on

Islamic Radicalization in the United States. The paper is divided into four sections:

Part one contains qualitative and quantitative information on Muslim demographics in

New Jersey. Part two contains an explanation of the types of Muslim institutions in

New Jersey as well as a summary of each of the 98 mosques. Part three examines the

radicalization process, outlines terrorist activity in the state and provides descriptions

of homegrown extremists. Part four presents the paper’s main findings.

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Table of Contents MAP OF NEW JERSEY ........................................................................................................................ 3

INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................... 4

PART ONE: DEMOGRAPHICS ......................................................................................................... 5

Muslims in the United States: .......................................................................................................... 5

Muslim Immigration to New Jersey: .............................................................................................. 5

Muslim Population in New Jersey .................................................................................................. 6

Geographical Concentration ............................................................................................................. 7

PART TWO: ORGANIZATION ...................................................................................................... 13

Muslim Representation: A Rich Mosaic .................................................................................... 13

The Sunni Institutions ...................................................................................................................... 13

CENTRAL NEW JERSEY ........................................................................................................... 13

NORTHERN NEW JERSEY ...................................................................................................... 17

SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY ....................................................................................................... 26

The Salafist Institutions................................................................................................................... 29

The Shia Institutions ........................................................................................................................ 32

The Non-denominational Institutions ......................................................................................... 34

The Sufi Institutions ......................................................................................................................... 35

Muslim Student Association (MSA) ........................................................................................... 35

PART THREE: RADICALIZATION ............................................................................................. 37

Islamic Radicalization: An Overview ......................................................................................... 37

Terrorist Activity in New Jersey .................................................................................................. 40

Al-Qaeda and Affiliates .............................................................................................................. 40

Al-Shabaab Connection: ............................................................................................................ 41

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) Connection:............................................... 43

Hamas .............................................................................................................................................. 45

September 11, 2001 Attacks ...................................................................................................... 47

Lone Wolves ................................................................................................................................... 48

PART FOUR: CONCLUSION .......................................................................................................... 52

Main Findings .................................................................................................................................... 52

WORKS CITED .................................................................................................................................... 54

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MAP OF NEW JERSEY

Source: NJ Department of Transportation

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INTRODUCTION

This paper is designed to provide an overview of Islamic radicalization in the state

of New Jersey. It is part of ICT’s Islamic Radicalization Index (IRI) and follows a

similar structure to other papers in the index. Since the project is specifically on

Islamic radicalization, a considerable amount of this report covers Muslim

demographics and religious institutions in the region. This is only to gain insight

about the community—not to single out Muslims. All ethno-religious groups can

have extremists. Any individual or organization mentioned in this report is by no

means tied to terrorism unless explicitly stated otherwise. The paper is divided

into four sections:

Part one contains qualitative and quantitative information on Muslim

demographics in New Jersey. Part two contains an explanation of the types of

Muslim institutions in New Jersey as well as a summary of each of the 117

mosques. Part three examines the radicalization process, outlines terrorist activity

in the state and provides descriptions of homegrown extremists. Part four presents

the paper's conclusions and main findings.

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PART ONE: DEMOGRAPHICS

Muslims in the United States:

The United States has a vibrant and diverse Muslim community. More than 60%

are immigrants from approximately 77 countries.1 Of the native-born American

Muslims, about 60% of them are African Americans.2 African American Muslims

have their own mosques and practices, which make them significantly different

from the immigrant Muslim communities. The Muslim community is rapidly

growing in the U.S. and it expected to double by 2030.3 Unfortunately, many

Muslims in the U.S. have suffered discrimination. According to a Gallup poll

from 2010, 48% of Muslim Americans say they have faced racial or religious

discrimination in the past year.4 The FBI’s Hate Crime Statistics from 2013

indicate that of the 1,223 reported anti-religious hate crimes, 13.7% were victims

of anti-Muslim bias. This makes victims of anti-Muslim bias the second largest

group after victims of anti-Jewish bias (60.3%).5 In a 2011 Gallup poll about 75%

of Americans believe that Muslims do not speak out enough against terrorism.6

The estimated Muslim population in the United States in 2010 was 2,595,000

people.7

Muslim Immigration to New Jersey:

New Jersey holds one of the largest Muslim communities in the United States.

Though there are Muslims in New Jersey from a wide array of ethnic

1 Toni Johnson, “Muslims in the United States,” Council on Foreign Relations, Sep. 19, 2011.

(http://www.cfr.org/united-states/muslims-united-states/p25927) 2 Ibid.

3 Ibid.

4 “Islamophobia: Understanding Anti-Muslim Sentiment in the West,” Gallup.

(http://www.gallup.com/poll/157082/islamophobia-understanding-anti-muslim-sentiment-west.aspx) 5 “Hate Crime Statistics, 2013,” FBI. (http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/hate-crime/2013/topic-

pages/victims/victims_final) 6 Toni Johnson, “Muslims in the United States,” Council on Foreign Relations, Sep. 19, 2011.

(http://www.cfr.org/united-states/muslims-united-states/p25927) 7 “The Future of the Global Muslim Population,” PewResearch, Jan. 27, 2011.

(http://www.pewforum.org/2011/01/27/future-of-the-global-muslim-population-regional-americas/)

http://www.cfr.org/united-states/muslims-united-states/p25927


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backgrounds, the most researched community is the Arab community. According

to the Arab American Institute, the estimated Arab population is 240,000 and New

Jersey has the 5th

largest Arab American population in the United States. Most of

the Arab immigrants in New Jersey are originally from Egypt, Jordan and Syria.

New Jersey is the only state where Egyptians are the largest subgroup of Arabs—

one in three Arab Americans in the state are of Egyptian ancestry.8 New Jersey

also has a large Pakistani community of about 26,000 people.9

Muslim Population in New Jersey

The total population of the state of New Jersey in 2010 was 8,791,894.10

According to the Association of Religion Data Archives, the total number of

Muslim adherents in New Jersey as of 2010 is 160,666 people.11

Therefore

approximately 1.8% of New Jersey’s residents adhere to Islam, which is roughly

double the percentage of the national average. Unfortunately, there is no data that

shows the breakdown of the Muslim community in New Jersey by ethnicity or

religious sect.

The Muslim community in New Jersey is relatively large and thriving. There are

many Islamic private schools, Halal certified foods, Middle Eastern and South

Asian grocery stores, community centers, youth groups and, of course, mosques.

As with most states in the U.S., the Muslim community in New Jersey appears to

be quite integrated into American society. However, a 2011 Pew polling indicates

that “overall, a 52% majority [of Muslims] says that government anti-terrorism

policies single out Muslims in the U.S. for increased surveillance and

8 “New Jersey,” Arab American Institute, 2003.

(http://www.aaiusa.org/page/file/0396de8685f3cdaaf3_geimvyqja.pdf/NJdemographics.pdf) 9 Sen-Yuan Wu, “New Jersey’s Asian Population by Asian Group: 2010,” Labor Market and Demographic

Research, Feb. 17, 2012. (http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/lpa/pub/lmv/lmv_18.pdf) 10

“State & County QuckFacts,” U.S. Census Bureau, 2013.

(http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/34000.html) 11

“State Membership Report,” The Association of Religion Data Archives, 2010.

(http://www.thearda.com/rcms2010/r/s/34/rcms2010_34_state_name_2010.asp)

http://www.aaiusa.org/page/file/0396de8685f3cdaaf3_geimvyqja.pdf/NJdemographics.pdf

http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/lpa/pub/lmv/lmv_18.pdf

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/34000.html

http://www.thearda.com/rcms2010/r/s/34/rcms2010_34_state_name_2010.asp

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monitoring.”12

That being said, the report did not find any signs of growth in

alienation or support for extremism post 9/11.

Geographical Concentration

The Muslim community in New Jersey is relatively small compared to other

religious communities, but large compared to the Muslim communities in other

states. Below is a breakdown of the number of congregations, adherents and

adherence rate in New Jersey and its counties. The counties listed are those that

have Muslim communities based on the data from the Association of Religion

Data Archives (ARDA). If there is no data on the Muslim community of a county,

the county will not be listed below. The three counties that we do not have data

for are Cape May County, Salem County and Sussex County.

Table 1: Breakdown of Number of Congregations, Adherents & Adherence Rate

in New Jersey (2000-2010)

Year Congregations Adherents Adherence Rate†

2000* 68 120,724 14.3

2010** 109 160,666 18.3

2000 to 2010

Change

+41 +39,942 +33.1%

*Total population of New Jersey is 8,414,350

**Total population of New Jersey is 8,791, 894 (+4.5% since 2000) †Number of adherents per 1,000 populations

Source: Association of Religion Data Archives

12

“Muslim Americans: No Signs of Growth in Alienation or Support for Extremism,” Pew Research

Center, Aug. 30, 2011. (http://www.people-press.org/2011/08/30/muslim-americans-no-signs-of-growth-

in-alienation-or-support-for-extremism/)

http://www.people-press.org/2011/08/30/muslim-americans-no-signs-of-growth-in-alienation-or-support-for-extremism/


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Table 2: County Reports

Atlantic County


2000* 2 3,782 15.0

2010** 4 9,422 34.3

2000 to 2010

Change

+2 +5,640 +149.1%

Bergen County


2000* 4 6,473 7.3

2010** 7 4,799 5.3

2000 to 2010

Change

+3 -1,674 -25.9%

Burlington County


2000* 5 8,464 20.0

2010** 6 7,770 17.3

2000 to 2010

Change

+1 -694 -8.2%

Camden County


2000* 3 5,673 11.1

2010** 7 9,970 19.4

2000 to 2010

Change

+4 +4,297 +75.7%

Cumberland County


2000* -- -- --

2010** 1 1,474 9.4

2000 to 2010

Change

-- -- --

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Essex County


2000* 14 21,751 27.4

2010** 17 23,743 30.3

2000 to 2010

Change

+3 +1,992 +9.2%

Gloucester County


2000* 1 1,891 7.4

2010** 1 1,474 5.1

2000 to 2010

Change

+0 -417 -22.1%

Hudson County


2000* 9 15,697 25.8

2010** 13 21,042 33.2

2000 to 2010

Change

+4 +5,345 +34.1%

Hunterdon County


2000* -- -- --

2010** 1 150 1.2

2000 to 2010

Change

-- -- --

Mercer County


2000* 4 11,673 33.3

2010** 5 5,122 14.0

2000 to 2010

Change

+1 -6,551 -56.1%

Middlesex County


2000* 3 6,982 9.3

2010** 9 17,723 21.9

2000 to 2010

Change

+6 +10,741 +153.8%

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Monmouth County


2000* 5 9,455 15.4

2010** 5 7,397 11.7

2000 to 2010

Change

+0 -2,058 -21.8%

Morris County


2000* 2 2,141 4.6

2010** 3 4,474 9.1

2000 to 2010

Change

+1 +2,333 +109.0%

Ocean County


2000* 1 400 0.8

2010** 2 2,949 5.1

2000 to 2010

Change

+1 +2,549 +637.3%

Passaic County


2000* 12 22,410 45.8

2010** 14 27,915 55.7

2000 to 2010

Change

+2 +5,505 +24.6%

Somerset County


2000* 1 1,891 6.4

2010** 5 3,274 10.1

2000 to 2010

Change

+4 +1,383 +73.1%

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Union County


2000* 2 2,041 3.9

2010** 8 10,494 19.6

2000 to 2010

Change

+6 +8,453 +414.2%

Warren County


2000* -- -- --

2010** 1 1,474 13.6

2000 to 2010

Change

-- -- --

Chart 1: Number of Muslim Congregations Per County in 2000 and 2010*

*Please note that no data was available if the number is 0.


0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

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2000

2010

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Chart 2: Number of Muslim Adherents Per County in 2000 and 2010*



Chart 3: Adherence Rate Per County in 200 and 2010*



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PART TWO: ORGANIZATION

Muslim Representation: A Rich Mosaic

This section will attempt to list the various Islamic institutions in New Jersey and

provide a brief description of each one. All of the information was obtained using

open source documents. The source used for locating the mosques was

Salanomatic.com, a site designed for Muslim Americans. It claims that there are

117 mosques in New Jersey, but only 98 were found to be active. Mosques noted

with an asterisk (*) are worthy of attention.

The Sunni Institutions

The Sunni sect of Islam is by far the largest and it has been estimated that they

make 85% to 90% of the Muslim population.13

After the death of the Prophet

Muhammad in 632, there was a schism in Islam that divided the religion into two

sects—Sunni and Shia. The Sunnis accepted Abu Bakr as the first caliph, but the

Shia wanted Ali, Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law, to be the caliph. Sunni

Muslims typically pray in a mosque, also called masjid in Arabic. It is important

to note though that a mosque is not a necessity for prayer. The places of worship

for Sunni institutions will be sorted into the central, north and south regions and

placed in alphabetical order.

CENTRAL NEW JERSEY

Dawatul Islamia of Somerset

Located in Franklin Township, the Dawatul Islamia of Somerset was established

in 1992 to serve the communities of Somerset and Middlesex counties to promote

Islamic education by setting up madrassas, adult education programs, organizing

shows, seminars, fund raisers and exchange programs within and outside of the

13

“Sunnis and Shia in the Middle East,” BBC, Dec. 19, 2013. (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-

east-25434060)

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-25434060


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United States of America. The center is affiliated with Sunni Islam and the

congregation is predominantly African-American. The current imam is Imam

Ibrahim Conteh.

Institute of Islamic Studies

Located in Cranbury, the institute functions as a local mosque with daily prayer

services for the multi-cultural Sunni community in West Windsor, East Windsor,

Cranbury, as well as the surrounding areas.

Islamic Center of East Brunswick

Located in East Brunswick, the center was established in 2004 so that community

members can locally fulfill their social, cultural and religious needs. There are

daily prayer services, weekend school as well as Qur’an courses available. The

center is affiliated with Sunni Islam and the congregation is predominately South

Asian. The current imam is Imam Mohammed Shahid.

Islamic Center of Hunterdon County

Located in Flemington, the center offers daily prayer services and educational

services for both children and adults. It is a multi-cultural, Sunni congregation

and the imam is Imam Yaser El-Menshawy. The website of this organization was

not examined because it attempted to download malware.

Islamic Center of Old Bridge

Located in South Amboy, the center is affiliated with Sunni Islam and the

congregation is predominantly South Asian. The website of this organization was

not examined because it attempted to download malware.

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Islamic Center of Plainfield

Located in Plainfield, the center offers daily prayer services for the Sunni

denomination.

Islamic Circle of Mercer County

Located in Lawrenceville, the organization was established in 1999 and is

dedicated to Muslims in Lawrenceville and neighboring areas. The congregation

is multicultural and follows the Sunni tradition. There are daily prayer services,

youth groups, Arabic classes and additional services. The director is Selim

Shaikh.

Islamic Information Institute

Located in Parlin, the institute offers daily prayer services for a multicultural,

Sunni congregation. The institute has a library of Islamic books, a weekly Qur’an

circle after Mughrib on Fridays and a brief daily lesson after Isha.

Islamic Society of Monmouth County*

Located in Middletown, the organization offers daily prayer services, marital

services, youth groups and lecture series for a predominantly Sunni, Egyptian

congregation. It is also known as Masjid al-Aman. The Imam is Sheikh Reda

Shata and he is known for being a Hamas supporter. He has been under NYPD

surveillance as well.14

Majidullah, Inc. of Plainfield

Located in Plainfield, the organization was established over 30 years ago and

offers daily prayers, a soup kitchen, a youth karate class, weekend school for

14

Ryan Mauro, “Islamic Society of Monmouth County,” The Clarion Project, Apr. 2, 2013.

(http://www.clarionproject.org/analysis/islamic-society-monmouth-county)

http://www.clarionproject.org/analysis/islamic-society-monmouth-county

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Arabic and Islamic studies as well as a social service agency. The imam is Imam

Abdul Wali Muhammad and the congregation is predominately African American.

Musallah

Located in Iselin, this organization offers all prayers for a multicultural, Sunni

congregation.

Muslim Center of Middlesex County

Located in Piscataway, the center serves the Muslim community of Middlesex

County with prayer services, a variety of school programs and volunteer

opportunities. The imam is Imam Nizam Ahmad Raouf Zaman and the president

is Dr. Safiullah Faizullah.

Muslim Center of Somerset County

Located in Somerset, the center was established over 20 years ago to serve the

Muslim community in the Somerville-Bridgewater-Hillsborough area with prayer

services, Qur’an classes and Sunday school. It is a multicultural, Sunni

congregation. The imam is Imam Hafiz Mohammed Shahid and the president is

Brother Arshad Jalil.

Muslim Community of New Jersey

Located in Fords, the organization offers prayer services, youth groups, Arabic

classes, weekend classes and a Thursday sisters program in Urdu. The

congregation appears to be predominately South Asian. The imam is Imam Abu

Fatima Asif Hirani and the president is Dr. Mohammad Javed.

New Brunswick Islamic Center

Located in North Brunswick, the center offers religious, educational and charitable

services to Muslims and non-Muslims in the central New Jersey region. The

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congregation is multicultural and adheres to the Sunni tradition. The imam is

Imam Qari Abdul Basit and the executive director is Sami Catovic.

NORTHERN NEW JERSEY

Albanian American Islamic Center

Located in Garfield, the center caters to a predominately Albanian congregation

that adheres to the Sunni tradition and offers prayer services.

AlFalah Islamic Center

Located in Bedminster, the center attempts to serve the needs of the Muslim

community with prayer services, a weekend Islamic school for families and guest

speakers every week. The congregation is multicultural and adheres to the Sunni

tradition.

Al Mi’raj Center

Located in Bayonne, the center has an orthodox-revivalist approach to Islam and it

is expressed through their services and programs. There are prayer services, youth

activities, Quran classes and weekend school. The congregation is multicultural

and adheres to the Sunni tradition.

Al-Tawheed Islamic Center

Located in Jersey City, the center offers prayer services, weekend school and other

activities to a multicultural congregation that adheres to the Sunni tradition.

Bayonne Muslims

Located in Bayonne, the organization offers prayer services, youth activities and

community events. The congregation is multicultural and adheres to the Sunni

tradition.

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Bedminster Musala

Located in Bedminster, the organization offers daily prayers, but no Friday

prayers. The congregation is multicultural and adheres to the Sunni tradition.

Bergen County Islamic Center

Located in Hackensack, the center was established in 1995 and offers prayer

services, Sunday school and youth programs. The congregation is multicultural

and adheres to the Sunni tradition.

Bergen Turkish Cultural Center & Mosque

Located in Cliffside Park, the center is affiliated with the Turkish government and

offers prayer services as well as classes on Islam and Turkish language. The

president of the board of directors is Ismail Uslu.

Dar-ul_Islah: The Muslim Society of Bergen County, New Jersey

Located in Teaneck, the organization was established over 35 years ago and is

often known as “The Teaneck Mosque” though there are other mosques in

Teaneck. It offers prayer services, youth groups, classes as well as a variety of

social services. The congregation is primarily South Asian and adheres to the

Sunni tradition. The imam is Imam Hafiz Saeed Qureshi and the president is Dr.

Shujaat Husain.

Irvington Islamic Center

Located in Newark, the center was established to serve the Muslims of Union

County, promote Islamic values and foster better relationships between Muslims

and the greater community at large. The congregation adheres to the Sunni

tradition. Today, the center is now called the Masjid Bani Adam.

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Islamic Center of Harrison

Located in Harrison, the center provides prayer services, Islamic/Qur’an school for

children and community services. The congregation is primarily South Asian and

adheres to the Sunni tradition. The imam is Imam Sharfuddin Nadwi and the

president is Nadeem Haider.

Islamic Center of Jersey City*

Located in Jersey City, the center carries out religious, cultural, education,

economic, social, athletic and other activities pertaining to the realization of Islam

as a complete way of life. The congregation is multicultural and adheres to the

Sunni tradition. The imam is Imam Dr. Farghal Ali and the president is Ahmed

Shedded. According to the Investigative Project on Terrorism, this mosque has a

history of ties to radical Islam.15

Mohammed A. Salameh, who frequented the

mosque in the early 1990s, was convicted for his involvement in the 1993 World

Trade Center Bombings.16

The director of the Islamic Center of Jersey City from

1978-1990, Mohammad al-Hanooti was named on a “List of Possible Unindicted

Co-conspirators for the [1993] World Trade Center Bombing” and mentioned in

the footnote of a civil action that he is “one of several ‘Hamas leaders and

activists’ who were present at a 1993 meeting in Philadelphia.”17

An imam of the

mosque, Sayyid Askar, said in 2000 that “jihad is an absolute obligation upon

those whose land has been occupied, and all Muslims have to stand together to

repulse the enemy."18

15

“Islamic Center of Jersey City,” The Investigative Project on Terrorism, 2010.

(http://www.investigativeproject.org/case/404) 16

Ibid. 17

Ibid. 18

Ibid.

http://www.investigativeproject.org/case/404

20

Islamic Center of Lake Hiawatha

Located in Lake Hiawatha, the center was established in 2008 to serve the Muslim

community. The congregation is multicultural and adheres to the Sunni tradition.

The president is Mr. Abdurehaman. According to their website, they are now

closed due to some unexpected situation.

Islamic Center of Morris County

Located in Rockaway, the center offers prayer services, Islamic school and Islamic

events. The congregation is multicultural and adheres to the Sunni tradition. The

Imam is Imam Adel Barhoma.

Islamic Center of Passaic County*

Located in Paterson, the center offers prayer services, weekend school, Arabic

programs and other services to the Muslim community. The congregation is

predominantly Arab and adheres to the Sunni tradition. The Imam is Imam Dr.

Muhammad Qatanani. In 1993, he was arrested by the Israeli government and

reportedly confessed to being a member of Hamas. He was nearly deported in

2008 for failing to disclose this on his green card application.19

Islamic Center of Union County

Located in Union, the center offers prayer services, SAT classes, youth groups,

weekend school and other services to the Muslim community. The congregation

is predominantly Arab and adheres to the Sunni tradition.

19

Brian Donohue, “Paterson imam fights deportation,” NJ.com, May 7, 2008.

(http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/topstories/index.ssf/2008/05/paterson_muslim_leader_fights.html)

http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/topstories/index.ssf/2008/05/paterson_muslim_leader_fights.html

21

Islamic Cultural & Development Center

Located in Roselle, the center is also known as Masjid Ibn Taymiyah. It offers

prayer services for a multicultural congregation that adheres to the Sunni tradition.

Islamic Society of Basking Ridge

Located in Basking Ridge, the organization was established in 2007 and offers

prayer services, Qur’an classes, a study circle and other services for the Muslim


The president is M. Ali Chaudry.

Islamic Society of Northern Jersey

Located in Hackettstown, the organization, also known as the Masjid An-noor and

the ISNJ Budd Lake Masjid, offers prayer services and other services for the

Muslim community. The congregation is multicultural and adheres to the Sunni

tradition.

Jam-e-Masjid Islamic Center

Located in Boonton, the center offers a variety of prayer, educational and social

services to the Muslim community. The center has multiple imams, including

Imam Qari Mohammad Attaullah, and the president is Dr. Abbas Abdul Rahman.

Jamiah Masjid Livingston

Located in Livingston, the organization offers prayer services, sporting events and

community service for the South Asian Muslim community. They have language

classes in Urdu, Bengali, Hindi, and Arabic and engage in noble causes such as

helping the flood victims of Bangladesh, earthquake relief efforts in Pakistan and

poverty in India.

22

MAS Center

Located in Bayonne, the MAS Center is now known as the Bayonne Mosque.

They offer regular prayers, Qur’an and Arabic classes, as well as a karate class.

The congregation is multicultural and adheres to the Sunni tradition.

Masjeed Jalalabad

Located in Paterson, the organization is also known as the Islamic Foundation of

New Jersey. It was established in the late 1970s and offers prayer services,

lectures and weekend classes. The community is predominantly Bengali and

adheres to the Sunni tradition. The imam is Mufti Fatehul Islam and the president

is Shamsul Islam.

Masjid al Huda

Located in Jersey City, the organization offers prayer services, classes and a

variety of social programs. The congregation is multicultural, though there is a

sizeable Hispanic population, and adheres to the Sunni tradition. The imam is

Imam Abu Sumayyah AbdurRazzaq Lebron.

Masjid al-Ferdous

Located in Paterson, the organization is also known as the Paterson Islamic

Mission of New Jersey and was established in 1997. It offers prayer services,

weekend Qur’an classes and a summer program for children. The masjid is open

to anyone, but the congregation is predominantly Bengali and adheres to the Sunni

tradition.

Masjid al-Haqq*

Located in Newark, the organization offers prayer services, Islamic weekend

school and other services to the Muslim community. The congregation is

predominantly African American and adheres to the Sunni tradition. The imam is

23

Imam Abdul Kareem Muhammad, who was involved in a lawsuit against the

NYPD’s surveillance program.20

Masjid al-Nasr

Located in Wayne, the organization offers prayer services for a multicultural,

Sunni congregation.

Masjid al-Wadud

Located in Montclair, the organization offers prayer services for a predominantly

African-American, Sunni congregation. The imam is Imam Kevin Dawud Amin.

Masjid al-Wali

Located in Edison, the building is currently under construction and will offer

prayer services. The congregation is predominantly South Asian and adheres to

the Sunni tradition.

Masjid Baitul Nasr

Located in Pleasantville, the organization offers prayer services for a multicultural

congregation that adheres to the Sunni tradition. The imam is Imam Bilal.

Masjid Dar ul-Khair

Located in Jersey City, the organization offers prayer services for a largely South

Asian congregation that adheres to the Sunni tradition. The jum’a prayers are held

at the Masjid Jalalabad.

20

Abdul Kareem Muhammad, “Why I’m fighting the NYPD’s surveillance of Muslims: Opinion,” NJ.com,

Feb. 28, 2014.

(http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/02/why_im_fighting_the_nypds_surveillance_program_opinio

n.html)

http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/02/why_im_fighting_the_nypds_surveillance_program_opinion.html


24

Masjid Imam Ali K. Muslim*

Located in Newark, the organization offers a safe environment for prayer,

worship, education and community events for the Muslim community. The

congregation is predominantly African-American and adheres to the Sunni

tradition. The imam is Imam Abdul Akbar Muhammad and is known to be against

the NYPD’s surveillance measures.21

Masjidun-Nur

Located in Camden, the organization offers prayer services, weekend school,

summer camp and other services for the Muslim community. The congregation is

multicultural and adheres to the Sunni tradition. The imam is Ismam Radee

Abdullah.

Minhaj ul Quran

Located in Hackensack, the organization offers prayer services and educational

services to a predominantly South Asian, Sunni congregation. The imam is Imam

Hafiz Saleem Qadri and the president is Dr. Meer Safdar Ali.

Muslim Community Center of Union County

Located in Elizabeth, the center was established in 1997 and offers prayer

services, Sunday school, youth programs and other services to the Muslim

community. The congregation is predominantly South Asian and adheres to the

Sunni tradition. The imam is Imam Syed Fakharudin Alvi and the president is

Nawaz Sheikh.

21

“Records detail mosque spying; NYPD defends tactics,” USA Today, Feb. 24, 2012.

(http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-02-22/newark-nypd-muslim-spying/53212918/1)

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-02-22/newark-nypd-muslim-spying/53212918/1

25

Muslim Federation of New Jersey

Located in Jersey City, the organization offers prayer services, classes and other

services for a multicultural, Sunni congregation.

National Islamic Association (NIA)

Located in Newark, the organization was established in 1985 and offers prayer

services, weekly classes and other services for the Muslim community. The


Imam Daud Haqq.

Nida-ul-Islam Center

Located in Teaneck, the center offers prayer services, classes and other services

for a multicultural, Sunni congregation. The imam is Mufti Abdul Muqtadir

Sikander.

North Hudson Islamic Center

Located in Union City, the center was established in 1992 and offers prayer

services and other services through a variety of committees. The congregation is

predominantly Arab and adheres to the Sunni tradition. The imam is Imam

Muhammad Moussa.

Omar Mosque

Located in Paterson, this mosque offers prayer services and other services for a

predominantly Arab, Sunni congregation.

26

Ulu Camii

Located in Paterson, this mosque offers prayer services, classes, a library and

other services. The congregation is predominantly Turkish and adheres to the

Sunni tradition. The imam is Imam Özcan Güngör.

Waris Cultural Center

Located in Irvington, the center is also known as Masjid Waarith ud Deen, offers

prayer services for a predominantly African-American congregation that adheres

to the Sunni tradition. The imam is Imam Wahy Deen Shareef .

Yeni Dunya Mosque

Located in Clifton, the mosque offers daily prayer services for a predominantly

Turkish congregation that adheres to the Sunni tradition.

SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY

Delaware Valley Muslim Association

Located in Burlington, the organization offers prayer service for a predominantly

Turkish congregation that adheres to the Sunni tradition. The imam is Imam

Ismail Ozturk.

Gracious Center of Learning & Enrichment Activities

Located in Cherry Hill, the organization offers prayer services, Arabic classes,

study groups, after school classes, youth groups and other services for the Muslim


The director and imam is Imam John Starling.

27

Islamic Center of Ewing

Located in Ewing, the center offers prayer services, Sunday school, Islamic events

and other services. The congregation is predominantly African-American and

adheres to the Sunni tradition. The imam is Imam Qareeb Bashir.

Islamic Center of Ocean County

Located in Toms River, the center offers prayer services, weekend and full time

school, youth groups and other services. The congregation is multicultural and

adheres to the Sunni tradition. The imam is Imam Imam Maqsood Qadri.

Islamic Center of South Jersey*

Located in Palmyra, the center was established in the early 1980’s and offers

prayer services, Islamic school, youth groups and other services for the Muslim

community. The congregation is predominantly South Asian and adheres to the

Sunni tradition. The Duka brothers from the 2007 Fort Dix attack plot prayed at

this mosque on Fridays.22

Masjid As-Saffat

Located in Trenton, the organization offers prayer services, Qur’an classes, a 10-

day Arabic course and other services to the Muslim community. The congregation

is multicultural and adheres to the Sunni tradition. The imam is Shaykh Abdur-

Rahman Ahmed.

Masjid Freehaven

Located in Lawnside, the organization offers prayer services, Sunday school and

other services for the Muslim community. The congregation is predominantly

African-American and adheres to the Sunni tradition. The mosque is in

22

Alan Feuer, “Mosques Are Shaken by Ties to a Plot,” The New York Times, May 14, 2007.

(http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/14/nyregion/14mosque.html?_r=1&)

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/14/nyregion/14mosque.html?_r=1&

28

association with the leadership of Imam Warith Deen Mohammed, who passed

away in 2008 and was one of Elijah Muhammad’s sons. W.D. Mohammed also

condemned the Nation of Islam.23

Masjid Muhammad of al-Islam

Located in Chesterfield, the organization offers prayer services for a multicultural,

Sunni congregation.

Masjid Muhammad of Atlantic City

Located in Atlantic City, the organization offers prayer services, Islamic studies

classes, online classes and other services to the Muslim community. The


Imam Amin Muhammad.

Masjid Shuhada

Located in Mount Holly, the organization offers prayer services, weekend Islamic

school and other services to the Muslim community. The congregation is

multicultural and adheres to the Sunni tradition. The imam is Sheikh Jamal

Ahmed El-Chebli.

Masjid Ul-Jihad

Located in Trenton, the organization offers prayer services to a multicultural,

Sunni congregation.

23

“Warith Deen Mohammed Condemns the Nation of Islam,” Anti-Defamation League, Aug. 14, 2007.

(http://archive.adl.org/main_nation_of_islam/wd_mohammed_noi.html#.Uxb9aOeSzm4)

http://archive.adl.org/main_nation_of_islam/wd_mohammed_noi.html#.Uxb9aOeSzm4

29

Masjidul Taqwa

Located in Trenton, the organization offers prayer services to a multicultural,

Sunni congregation.

Muslim American Community Association

Located in Voorhees, the organization offers prayer services, lectures and other

services to the Muslim community. The congregation adheres to the Sunni

tradition.

Quba School & Islamic Center

Located in Camden, the organization was established in 1985 and offers prayer

services, lectures and other services to the Muslim community. The congregation

is predominantly African-American, most of whom are converts, and adheres to

the Sunni tradition.

The Salafist Institutions

Salafism is a movement within Sunni Islam that attempts to follow the virtues,

piety and leadership of Islam during the period from 610 until 661—from the

prophetic mission of Muhammad until the death of Ali, the last of the rightly

guided successors. The term “salaf” means predecessor, as their beliefs coincide

with early Islam. Salafism is often used synonymously with Wahhabism, though

there are disputes as to whether they should be used synonymously. Within

Salafism, there is a particular strand known as Salafi-jihadism, which rejects

democracy and Shia rule.24

They believe in violent jihad to achieve their political

goals. An example of a Salafi-jihadist group is the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria

24

Hafez, Mohammed M. Suicide Bombers in Iraq: The Strategy and Ideology of Martyrdom. Washington,

D.C.: U.S. Institute of Peace Press, 2007. 63-70.

30

(ISIS), which was disaffiliated from al-Qaeda last February and is annihilating

minorities as well as devout Muslims in the parts of Iraq and Syria they control.

Al-Minhaal Center

Located in South Plainfield, the center offers prayer services, Arabic classes,

Qur’an classes and other services to the Muslim community. The mosque can

hold about 1,500 people. The congregation is multicultural and adheres to the

Salafi tradition. The imam is Shaykh Alaa El-Sadaawi.

Islamic Center of America

Located in East Orange, the center offers prayer services, Islamic classes and other

services. The congregation is multicultural and adheres to the Salafi tradition.

The imam is Imam Abu Mulimah.

Islamic Cultural Center

Located in Newark, the center offers prayer services for a multicultural

congregation that adheres to the Salafi tradition.

Islamic Dawah Center of Plainfield

Located in Plainfield, the center offers prayer services, weekly classes and other

services for the Muslim community. The congregation is multicultural and

adheres to the Salafi tradition. The president is Mudeer Khalifa Abdur Rahman.

Masjid al-Furqaan

Located in Atlantic City, the mosque offers prayer services for a multicultural,

Salafi congregation.

31

Masjid Ansar As-Sunnah

Located in Paterson, the mosque was established in 2000 and offers prayer

services, classes and other services for the Muslim community. The congregation

is multicultural and adheres to the Salafi tradition. The imam is Imam Hamza

Abdus-Salaam.

Masjid As-Habul Yameen

Located in East Orange, the mosque offers prayer services and other services to

the Muslim community. The congregation is predominantly African-American

and adheres to the Salafi tradition. The imam is Imam Abdoul Aziz.

Masjid Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahab

Located in Camden, the mosque offers prayer services and other services to a

multicultural, Salafi congregation.

Masjid Rahmah

Located in Newark, the mosque offers prayer services, classes and other services

to the Muslim community. The congregation is predominantly African-American

and adheres to the Salafi tradition. The imam is Imam Umar Quinn.

Masjidul Bayaan

Located in Asbury Park, the mosque offers prayer services, weekly educational

classes and other services. The congregation is multicultural and adheres to the

Salafi tradition. The imam is Imam Abu Hafsah Kashiff Khan Al Bakistani.

Muslim Community Organization of South Jersey

Located in Atlantic City, the organization and was established in the early 1990s.

The mosque offers prayer services, Sunday school and has a community center.

32

The congregation is multicultural and adheres to the Salafi tradition. The imam is

Imam Jawad Rasul and the president is Dr. Abdul Qadir.

Muslim Society of Jersey Shore

Located in Toms River, the organization, also known as Masjid Bilal, offers

prayer services, a variety of classes and other services to the Muslim community.

The congregation is predominantly Arab and adheres to the Salafi tradition. The

imam is Imam Alaa Ahmed and the president is Walaa Eldin Elsayed.

The Shia Institutions

Approximately 10-15% of the world’s Muslim community adheres to the Shia

tradition. They are a majority in Iran, Iraq, Bahrain and Azerbaijan. After the

schism between the Sunni and Shia, the Shia supported Ali’s ascendency. The

term Shia originates from “shi’at Ali,” which means “supporters” or “helpers of

Ali.”25

Al Gadeer Benevolent Foundation

Located in North Bergen, the foundation was established in 2012 and offers prayer

services, lectures and other services to the Shia community. The congregation is

multicultural and adheres to the Jafari tradition.

Astaana-e-Zehra

Located in Englishtown, the organization was established in 1990 and is the

religious center of the Ahle Baith Foundation. The organization offers prayer

services, religious school, youth groups and other services. The congregation is

predominantly South Asian and adheres to the Jafari tradition.

25

Christopher M. Blanchard, “Islam: Sunnis and Shiites,” Congressional Research Service, Jan. 28, 2009.

(http://www.fas.org/irp/crs/RS21745.pdf)

http://www.fas.org/irp/crs/RS21745.pdf

33

Imam Ali Masjid

Located in Pennsauken Township, the mosque offers prayer services for a

multicultural, Jafari congregation.

Imam-a-Zamana Foundation of North America

Located in Freehold, the foundation was founded in 1988 originally as Imam

Sahib uz-Zaman Trust. The organization offers prayer services, Islamic school,

family picnics and other services to the Muslim community. The congregation

adheres to the Jafari tradition.

Masjid-e-Ali

Located in Somerset, the mosque was founded in 1980 and offers prayer services,

religious classes and other services to the Muslim community. The congregation

is multicultural and adheres to the Jafari tradition.

Mehifile Shahe-Khorasan Charitable Trust

Located in Englewood, the organization offers prayer services, an investment-

banking program and other services for the Muslim community. The congregation

is predominantly South Asian and adheres to the Jafari tradition.

Mohammadia Islamic Center

Located in Paterson, the organization offers prayer services to a predominantly

Afghan congregation that adheres to the Jafari tradition.

Shia Association of North America

Located in Delran, the association, also known as Bait-ul-Qayem, was established

over 25 years ago. It offers prayer services, classes, youth groups and other

34

services for the Muslim community. The congregation is predominantly South

Asian and adheres to the Jafari tradition.

Zainabia

Located in Irvington, the organization offers prayer services, lectures and other

services for the Muslim community. The congregation is predominantly South

Asian and adheres to the Jafari tradition.

The Non-denominational Institutions

Non-denominational Muslims adhere to a type of Islam that is not restricted to any

specific sect. They would refer to themselves as “just Muslim.”

Islamic Society of Central Jersey

Located in Monmouth Junction, the organization offers prayer services, weekend

school and other services for the Muslim community. The congregation is

multicultural and non-denominational. The imam is Imam Hamad Ahmad Chebli.

Jamia Musallah

Located in Edison, the organization was founded in 2008 and offers prayer

services and other services for the Muslim community. The congregation is

multicultural and non-denominational.

IABC Mosque

Located in Burlington, IABC stands for Islamic Academy of Burlington County

and was established in 2008. The mosque offers prayer services, Islamic

schooling and other services to the Muslim community. The congregation is

multicultural and non-denominational.

35

Masjud Darul Islam

Located in Elizabeth, the mosque offers prayer services for the Muslim

community. The congregation is multicultural and non-denominational.

The Sufi Institutions

Sufism is a sect of Islam that emphasizes the inner, mystical, or psycho-spiritual

dimension of Islam. Some scholars, however, believe that it is a philosophy that

falls outside the realm of Islam.26

Sunni Rizvi Jamia Masjid

Located in Jersey City, the mosque, also known as the Jersey City Islamic Center,

offers prayer services, Qur’an classes, youth groups and other services to the

Muslim community. The congregation is predominantly South Asian and adheres

to the Sufi tradition. The imam is Imam Maulana Hafiz Ghulam Yasin Rizvi.

Muslim Student Association (MSA)

MSA is a national, religious organization that was formed in 1963 to serve Muslim

youths. It offers many valuable services to Muslim students throughout the nation.

The organization has chapters on many college and university campuses in the

U.S. and Canada. MSA is only included here because we are trying to survey the

entire Muslim community of New Jersey, but some chapters of the organization

have had ties to extremism. According to a report from the NYPD, “Extremists

have used these university-based organizations as forums for the development and

recruitment of likeminded individuals—providing a receptive platform for

younger, American-born imams, to present a radical message in a way that

26

Alan Godlas, "Sufism, Sufis, and Sufi Orders: Sufism's Many Paths," Islam and Islamic Studies

Resources. Accessed Apr. 2, 2014. (http://islam.uga.edu/Sufism.html)

36

resonates with the students.”27

Furthermore, a few MSA members have joined

terrorist organizations in the past. One such example is Omar Hammami from

Daphne, Alabama. Hammami served as president of The University of South

Alabama’s MSA. A week after 9/11, he was quoted in the school newspaper as

saying it was “difficult to believe a Muslim could have done this.”28

Several years

later, he moved to Somalia and joined al-Shabaab, which today is an official al-

Qaeda affiliate.29

The MSA chapters that the national organization claims to be affiliated with are

below. There are MSAs at other universities that are not mentioned on the official

MSA website as the list has not been updated since May 2012.30

College of New Jersey

Drew University

Montclair State University

New Jersey Institute of Technology

Passaic County Community College

Richard Stockton College of New Jersey

Seton Hall University

William Paterson University of New Jersey

27

Mitchel D. Silber, Arvin Bhatt, et. al, “Radicalization in the West: The Homegrown Threat,” New York

City Policy Department, 2007.

(http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/downloads/pdf/public_information/NYPD_Report-

Radicalization_in_the_West.pdf) 28

Mike Levine, “Al Qaeda Linked American Terrorist Unveiled, as Charges Await Him in U.S.,” Fox

News, Sept. 4, 2009. (http://www.foxnews.com/us/2009/09/04/al-qaeda-linked-american-terrorist-unveiled-

charges-await/) 29

Ibid. 30

"2013-2014 Affiliated Chapters List," Muslim Students Association, May 10, 2012. Accessed Apr. 2,

2014. (http://msanational.org/2012-2013-affiliated-chapters-list/)

37

PART THREE: RADICALIZATION

Islamic Radicalization: An Overview

The study of Islamic radicalization can help explain how regular people can

transform from civilians to terrorists. It is important that we understand how

radicalization works because this may provide us with insight on how to stop or

prevent terrorism. An understanding of radicalization can also teach us about de-

radicalization—the transformation of a terrorist into a civilian. Thus,

radicalization is an extremely important issue in terrorism studies and must be

thoroughly researched.

As with most theories in the social sciences, radicalization theories are not perfect,

but they are the best explanations of radicalization that we have at the moment.

Many researchers and organizations including Dr. Fathali M. Moghaddam, Dr.

Ehud Sprinzak and the New York Police Department (NYPD) have developed

their own theories of radicalization. For the purpose of this paper, we will only

use the NYPD theory because it is designed specifically to deal with Islamic

radicalization, which is the phenomenon we are examining, and New York City is

in close proximity to New Jersey.

The NYPD theory was developed to provide “a conceptual framework for

understanding the process of radicalization in the West.”31

They examined several

case studies and have determined that radicalization in the West is, first and

foremost, driven by the Salafi-jihadist Ideology. The ideology, they claim, has a

religious dimension, a political dimension and an appeal.

31

Mitchel D. Silber, Arvin Bhatt and et. al, “Radicalization in the West: The Homegrown Threat,” New

York City Policy Department, 2007.


Radicalization_in_the_West.pdf)

38

According to Dr. Assaf Moghadam, the Salafi-jihadist ideology is a religious

ideology. It contains all of the four core functions of an ideology, which are

raising awareness of particular issues to an “in-group,” attributing blame of the

issues to some “out-group,” creating a group identity and offering a specific

program of action to resolve the issues at hand. Unlike secular ideologies, such as

communism and fascism, the Salafi-jihadist ideology also invokes religion.

Salafi-jihadists describe themselves and their enemies in religious terms, they

describe their strategy and mission as religious, and they justify acts of violence

with selective references to the Qur’an.32

Thus, we must understand that

radicalization in the West in not driven by mainstream Islam, but by Salafi-

jihadism.

The radicalization process, as determined by the NYPD, is composed of four

phases. Each stage has its own unique characteristics and the model is sequential,

though individuals do not always follow the progression exactly. The four stages

can be summarized in the image below.

32

Assaf Moghadam, “The Salafi-Jihad as a Religious Ideology,” CTC Sentinel 1, no. 3 (2008).

(http://www.ctc.usma.edu/posts/the-salafi-jihad-as-a-religious-ideology)

http://www.ctc.usma.edu/posts/the-salafi-jihad-as-a-religious-ideology

39

Source: NYPD

Stage 1: Pre-Radicalization- describes the individual’s world—his or her

pedigree, lifestyle, religion, social status, neighborhood and education—just prior

to their journey of radicalization.

Stage 2: Self-Identification- the individual begins to explore Salafi Islam, while

slowly migrating away from his or her former identity, which is now redefined by

Salafi philosophy, ideology and values. The catalyst for this is often a cognitive

event or crisis that challenges one’s certitude in previously held beliefs. The two

indicators for this stage are progression or gravitation towards Salafi Islam and

regular attendance at a Salafi mosque.

40

Stage 3: Indoctrination- the individual intensifies his or her beliefs, wholly adopts

Salafi-jihadi ideology and concludes, without question, that the conditions and

circumstances exist where action (i.e. militant jihad) is required to support and

further the Salafist cause. The two indicators for this stage are withdrawal from

the mosque and politicization of new beliefs.

Stage 4: Jihadization- members of the cluster accept their individual duty to

participate in jihad and self-designate themselves as holy warriors or mujahedeen.

The group will ultimately begin operational planning for jihad or a terrorist attack.

Jihadization is a very complex stage and has a variety of indicators including

traveling abroad, “outward bound”-like activities, mental reinforcement activities,

researching on the Internet, reconnaissance/surveillance and acquiring material to

develop a device.

Terrorist Activity in New Jersey

Al-Qaeda and Affiliates

Al-Qaeda is more responsible for terrorist attacks against New Jersey’s residents

than any other terrorist organization. The organization has inflicted the greatest

harm on New Jersey during the 9/11 attacks. A very small number of New

Jersey’s Muslims have also been radicalized to join al-Qaeda and adhere to its

global ideology. We will mention cases of this in the subsequent pages. Since

9/11, the organization has changed substantially. Al-Qaeda began as a relatively

defined organization, but now it is primarily a decentralized group of affiliates that

carry the brand name. There are five official affiliates among numerous unofficial

affiliates. The official affiliates include al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, al-

Shabab, al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent

and Jabhat al-Nusra. Al-Qaeda core still exists, but it is quite weakened. As we

41

have seen from the Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris, these affiliates are extremely

capable and dangerous.

Al-Shabaab Connection:

Mohamed Mahmood Alessa is from North Bergen, New Jersey and was born to

Palestinian-Jordanian parents. According to Alessa's mother, he attended local

public elementary school, two Catholic grade schools, a boarding school in

Connecticut, a school for troubled youth, three Muslim schools and two public

high schools. He frequently got in trouble for fighting or his speech.33

From 2005-

2006, which was at North Bergen High School and KAS Prep, Alessa threatened

to blow up the school, mutilate gays and punish women who were not subordinate

to men.34

He posed such a safety threat that in 10th grade he received lessons in a

local public library under watch of a security guard. Alessa was known for being

a difficult adolescent and family friends watched him scream at his mother,

vandalize his father's car and knock food off the shelf in a deli. His parents

brought him to therapists, and he was prescribed medicine for anger

management. Sometime around 2007, however, he stopped taking his medicine

and stopped seeing therapists.35

According to the family's neighbor, Wilmer

Precilla, he would make derogatory remarks against Hispanics in a predominantly

Hispanic neighborhood and would then try, unsuccessfully, to join a Dominican

gang.36

Carlos "Omar" Eduardo Almonte is a native of Santiago, Dominican

Republic. Almonte was raised Roman Catholic in Elmwood Park, New

Jersey. He had a troubled youth and was arrested three times in less than four

33

Kareem Fahim, Richard Pérez-Peña and Karen Zraick, From Wayward Teenagers to Terror Suspects,

The New York Times, June 11, 2010.

(http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/12/nyregion/12suspects.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0) 34

Ibid. 35

Ibid. 36

Ibid.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/12/nyregion/12suspects.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0

42

months for petty crimes. At the end of the summer of 2004, Almonte converted to

Islam. According to a friend, his interest began when he heard someone preaching

at the Garden State Plaza mall in Paramus. He visited mosques in Paterson and

Union City, and took the name Omar. There is a police report on May 23, 2009

about a fight that broke out in the family. Almonte began preaching about Islam

to his brother, who objected, and it escalated into a physical fight.

Alessa and Almonte met sometime in 2005 and were members of the same friends

group, which they called the PLO. Alessa was not particularly religious then, but

Almonte was becoming more so since he was a recent convert. In October 2006,

the FBI received a tip that Alessa and Almonte were talking about holy war and

killing non-Muslims. The authorities were in contact with and informed by

Almonte's family. In 2007, the two travelled to Jordan, attempting to join al-

Qaeda and infiltrate the Iraqi border. They were turned away at the border and

never contacted by al-Qaeda.37

On a Facebook page in October 2008, Almonte

posted quotes from Salafi jihadists like Abu Qatada and Abu Hamza al-

Masri.38

In 2008 and 2009, Alessa started lecturing about God and grew a

beard. They became friends with Bassem, who offered to put them up at his house

in Egypt. Bassem, however, was an undercover police officer.39

Alessa and Almonte were arrested on June 5, 2010 at the JFK International airport.

They attempted to fly from New York to Egypt and then travel to Somalia. In

Somalia they had plans to join al-Shabaab, which is an official al-Qaeda affiliate

37

Perry Chiaramonte, “Bloodlust of NJ ‘jihadists,’” New York Post, June 7, 2010.

(http://nypost.com/2010/06/07/bloodlust-of-nj-jihadists/) 38

Kareem Fahim, Richard Pérez-Peña and Karen Zraick, From Wayward Teenagers to Terror Suspects,

The New York Times, June 11, 2010.

(http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/12/nyregion/12suspects.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0) 39

Ibid.


43

as of February 2012.40

Both Alessa and Almonte admitted to acquiring, viewing

and displaying to others extremist materials. The materials—produced by and

relating to al-Qaeda, al-Shabaab and other groups—justified killing any of the

individuals who opposed them.41

To prepare for their journey to Somalia, they

saved and pooled thousands of dollars, physically conditioned themselves, and

performed combat simulations. Both men plead guilty.42

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) Connection:

Sharif Mobley was born in January 1984 in Buena, New Jersey to a family of

Somali descent. Mobley’s high school classmates remember him for being very

religious, with a small group of friends.43

Many thought of him as a class clown

and he enjoyed martial arts. He was always trying to convert non-Muslim friends

to Islam. His father noted that Sharif was more connected to the faith than

himself. Mobley attended the Quba Mosque in West Philadelphia during his

childhood and for part of his adult life.44

When he was a child, he was enrolled in

a weekend Arabic literacy and Qur’anic study program at the mosque. After the

program ended in 1994, Imam Anwar Muhaimin claims he did not see him until

2002 when he would come to prayers “very infrequently.”45

The imam stated that

he was never an established member.

40

Katherine Zimmerman, “Al Qaeda and its Affiliates in 2013,” AEI Critical Threats Project, Apr. 25,

2013. (http://www.criticalthreats.org/al-qaeda/al-qaeda-affiliates) 41

Ibid. 42

“Two New Jersey Men Plead Guilty To Conspiring To Kill Overseas For Designated Foreign Terrorist

Organization Al Shabaab,” United States Department of Justice, Mar. 3, 2011.

(http://www.justice.gov/usao/nj/Press/files/Alessa,%20Mohamed%20et.%20al.%20News%20Release.html

) 43

Peter Finn, “The post-9/11 life of an American charged with murder,” The Washington Post, Sept. 4,

2010. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/04/AR2010090403328.html) 44

David O’Reilly, Michael Matza, Jacqueline L. Urgo, and Elisa Lala, “Shock and disbelief follow

terrorism arrest,” Philly.com, Mar. 13, 2010. (http://articles.philly.com/2010-03-

13/news/25215990_1_sana-a-al-qaeda-prayers) 45

Ibid.

http://www.criticalthreats.org/al-qaeda/al-qaeda-affiliates

http://www.justice.gov/usao/nj/Press/files/Alessa,%20Mohamed%20et.%20al.%20News%20Release.html


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/04/AR2010090403328.html

44

Overtime, Mobley started becoming more political and there were increased

tensions with his friends. After he completed high school, he worked as an

unskilled laborer including at nuclear power plants. In 2004, Mobley went on the

Hajj to Mecca for the first time. He lost his interest in martial arts competitions

after the Hajj and went back to Mecca as a guide two more times. When he

encountered a former friend who joined the U.S. army, Mobley called him a

“Muslim killer.” In the summer of 2005, Mobley met Nzinga Saba Islam and

married her three months later. In January 2007, they had a daughter and they

moved to Newark, Delaware six months later. The family sometimes attended

services at the Islamic Society of Delaware.46

Islam said that she and Mobley were thinking about moving to an Arab country so

that they could learn Arabic and deepen their knowledge of Islam. They became

friends with a Yemeni family that ultimately inspired them to move to Yemen in

July 2008. In Yemen, they became acquainted with the radical American cleric

Anwar al-Awlaki, whose teachings they listened to on CDs. They returned to the

U.S. in October so that Islam could give birth to a son. In December, they went

back to Yemen.

According to a U.S. official, Mobley rarely attended language class and would

instead facilitate the movement of extremists to Yemen on behalf of AQAP. After

an AQAP attack, the couple wanted to return home. When Mobley went to the

U.S. embassy for extra pages in his passport and an exit visa, he was interviewed

by the FBI and said to be “uncooperative.” The couple later realized they were

under surveillance and they decided to never leave the apartment except to go to

the embassy or buy food. Mobley was arrested by Yemen’s Political Security

46

Robert Mackey, “American Held in Yemen After Shootout,” The New York Times News Blog, Mar. 11,

2010. (http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/11/american-held-in-yemen-after-

shootout/?hp&_r=1&gwh=44B927B339FCDFA091F3AFC4AC85E933&gwt=pay)

http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/11/american-held-in-yemen-after-shootout/?hp&_r=1&gwh=44B927B339FCDFA091F3AFC4AC85E933&gwt=pay


45

Organization and was shot in the process. He was sent to the hospital where he

was denied the request to speak with his wife. FBI agents arrived and were trying

to have him reveal the location of Anwar al-Awlaki. In the hospital, he killed one

guard, wounded another and attempted to kill himself.47

Hamas

Hamas is a designated terrorist organization in the United States, Canada, Israel,

European Union, Egypt and many other countries. The organization, which is

headquartered in Gaza with strongholds throughout the Palestinian Territories, is

an offshoot of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood. Egypt recently declared the

entire Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization.48

Hamas is a hybrid terrorist organization and is deeply rooted in Palestinian

society. The organization is Islamist and performs da’wah activities, which makes

it appealing for the more religious sector of society. In comparison to their

political rival, Fatah, they suffer from less corruption, which understandably

makes the organization more attractive. Nonetheless, Hamas is a terrorist group

and intentionally targets civilians through rocket attacks and suicide bombings.

New Jersey has a number of imams who have been allegedly tied to Hamas.

Imam Mohammed Qatanani was born in Nablus and moved to Paterson in 1994.

He became the head imam of the Islamic Center of Passaic County, New Jersey’s

largest mosque. Qatanani has been highly praised as a voice of moderation and

tolerance. The day after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Qatanani

47

Peter Finn, “The post-9/11 life of an American charged with murder,” The Washington Post, Sept. 4,


Shadia Nasralla, “Egypt designates Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist group,” Reuters, Dec. 25, 2013.

(http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/25/us-egypt-explosion-brotherhood-idUSBRE9BO08H20131225)


http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/25/us-egypt-explosion-brotherhood-idUSBRE9BO08H20131225

46

instructed his congregation to help the FBI with Arabic translations.49

However,

he failed to mention his detention in Israel in 1993 on his green card application.50

According to Israeli court records, Qatanani confessed before a judge in 1993 to

charges of membership in Hamas and providing services to Hamas.51

On

September 4, 2008, a U.S. Immigration Court judge in Newark dismissed charges

against Imam Mohammed Qatanani, rejecting government claims that the cleric

failed to disclose information about a prior arrest and conviction in Israel for

allegedly being a member of Hamas.52

Sheikh Reda Assayyid Shata is currently the Imam of al-Aman in Middletown,

New Jersey. He was born in Egypt on April 30, 1968. His entire education took

place in Cairo’s famous al-Azhar University. He presents many lectures and

lessons in mosques and Islamic centers throughout the United States.53

Shata is a

known Hamas supporter and considers them a powerful symbol of resistance.

When Israel executed Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, a founder of Hamas, Shata went to a

memorial service for him and publically stated that the “lion of Palestine has been

martyred.”54

Despite having dined with former New York City Mayor

Bloomberg, Shata has been under NYPD surveillance and classified as a “Tier

One” person of interest.55

49


(http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/topstories/index.ssf/2008/05/paterson_muslim_leader_fights.html) 50

Elizabeth Dwoskin, “Supporters Rally in Newark as an Imam’s Trial Opens,” The New York Times, May

9, 2008. (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/09/nyregion/09imam.html) 51

Brian Donohue, “Witness says imam admitted belonging to Hamas,” NJ.com, May 8, 2008.

(http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/05/authorities_say_imam_belonged.html) 52

Walter Ruby, “Cleared in court, imam praises Jewish supporter,” The New Jersey Jewish News, Sept. 11,

2008. (http://njjewishnews.com/njjn.com/091108/njImamPraisesJewish.html) 53

Sheikh Reda Shata, “Curriculum Vitae of Sheikh Reda Assayyid Shata,” Sheikh Reda Shata. Accessed

Apr. 2, 2014. (http://www.redashata.com/English/index.php?page=bio) 54

Andrea Elliott, “To Lead the Faithful in a Faith Under Fire,” The New York Times, Mar. 6, 2006.

(http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/06/nyregion/06imam.html?pagewanted=all) 55

Eileen Sullivan, “NYPD spied on city’s Muslim anti-terror partners,” Associated Press, Oct. 6, 2011.

(http://www.ap.org/Content/AP-In-The-News/2011/NYPD-spied-on-citys-Muslim-anti-terror-partners)


http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/09/nyregion/09imam.html

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/05/authorities_say_imam_belonged.html

http://njjewishnews.com/njjn.com/091108/njImamPraisesJewish.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/06/nyregion/06imam.html?pagewanted=all

http://www.ap.org/Content/AP-In-The-News/2011/NYPD-spied-on-citys-Muslim-anti-terror-partners

47

September 11, 2001 Attacks

New Jersey was greatly impacted by 9/11 and has the second highest casualty toll

after New York.56

According to the NJ 9/11 Memorial Foundation, 749 New

Jersey residents were killed on September 11, 2001 at the World Trade Center, the

Pentagon and in Shanksville, PA.57

Given that this radicalization project will

include an account of 9/11 in other states, I will only cover United Airlines Flight

93, which departed from Newark, New Jersey. All of the information presented

can be found in the 9/11 Commission Report.

By 7:39 AM, Saeed al Ghamdi, Ahmed al Nami, Ahmad al Haznawi and Ziad

Jarrah checked in at the United Airlines ticket counter for Flight 93, going to Los

Angeles. The four men passed though the security checkpoint. By 7:48 AM, all

four of them were seated in first-class seats in close proximity to the cockpit. Due

to Newark Airport’s heavy morning traffic, the plane took off at 8:42 AM, more

than 25 minutes late. When United 93 departed, the crew was unaware of the

hijacking of American 11. By 8:46 AM both American 11 and United 175 had

been hijacked. Both the FAA and the airlines share responsibility for failing to

notify other planes quickly enough. United only made decisive action to take

defensive action at 9:19 AM, when a flight dispatcher began warning his 16

transcontinental flights on his own initiative. United 93 received this warning at

9:24 AM. At 9:32 a hijacker made the announcement, “Ladies and Gentlemen:

Here the captain, please sit down keep remaining sitting. We have a bomb on

board. So, sit.” Jarrah, the one who could pilot the plane, then instructed the

plane’s autopilot to head east. A woman was being held captive inside the

cockpit, and one of the hijackers killed or otherwise silenced her. Several

56

“Our Story: New Jersey’s 9/11 Collection,” State of New Jersey Department of State, 2011.

(http://www.nj.gov/state/museum/dos_museum_exhibit-911.html) 57

“The People,” New Jersey 9/11 Memorial Foundation, Accessed Apr. 2, 2014.

(http://www.nj911memorial.org/people/)

http://www.nj.gov/state/museum/dos_museum_exhibit-911.html

48

passengers and crew-members made phone calls to their family, friends and

colleagues, informing them of the situation; all understood the plane had been

hijacked. The hijackers were aware that the passengers were making these calls,

but did not seem concerned. A passenger had been stabbed and two people were

lying on the floor. There was no evidence of any firearms or explosives. During

at least five calls, information was shared about the other attacks and one

passenger indicated there was a vote on whether to revolt, in which they decided

to act. The passenger revolt began at 9:57 AM. Jarrah responded by rolling the

plane left and right and pitched the nose of the plane up and down. At 10:00:03

AM, Jarrah stabilized the plane. Jarrah asked a hijacker if he should finish it off

and he was instructed to wait. The passengers continued to revolt and Jarrah

stopped the violent maneuvers at 10:01:00 AM, while saying “Allah is the

greatest!” He was then instructed to “Pull it down! Pull it down!” A hijacker

yelled “Allah is the greatest” while there were sounds of the passenger attack

continuing and the plane crashed in an empty field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

The terrorists planned to crash the plane in the Capitol or the White House, but

they were defeated by the passengers of United 93.58

Lone Wolves

Yousef Mohamid al-Khattab of Atlantic City, New Jersey was born to a Jewish

family under the name Joseph Leonard Cohen. Some sources claim that he has

dual citizenship with Israel and was a Haredi Jew during some point of his life.59

Al-Khattab claims he converted to Islam after talking with a Muslim from the

United Arab Emirates on a Jewish chat room while living in Netivot, Israel in

58

National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Philip Zelikow, Executive Director;

Bonnie D. Jenkins, Counsel; Ernest R. May, Senior Advisor). The 9/11 Commission Report. New York:

W.W. Norton & Company, 2004. 59

“Jewish-born Terrorist Pleads Guilty,” The Jewish Week, Nov. 4, 2013.

(http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/national-news/jewish-born-terrorist-pleads-guilty)

http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/national-news/jewish-born-terrorist-pleads-guilty

49

1998.60

The two of them maintained back and forth conversations for two years.

After reading an English translation of the Qur’an, he decided to convert and took

the name Yousef Mohamid al-Khattab.61

He moved to a Palestinian neighborhood in East Jerusalem, but in 2007 returned to

the United States. When he returned, al-Khattab helped start Revolution

Muslim—a radical Islamist group that became a gateway for young jihadists in the

U.S. interested in joining militant groups abroad. Revolution Muslim became a

popular online site encouraging Muslims to support Osama bin Laden, Anwar al-

Awlaki, al-Qaeda, the Taliban and others engaged in or espousing violent Jihad.

Al-Khattab posted a video about the conflict in Gaza that suggested viewers to

seek out the leaders of Jewish Federation chapters and “deal with them directly at

their homes.” Furthermore, he posted a video and photo about the Chabad

headquarters in Brooklyn with a map and directions. There was also a link that

contained a manual for building explosive devices.

Al-Khattab pleaded guilty on October 30, 2013 and on April 25, 2014, he was

sentenced to two and a half years in prison.62

Al-Khattab stated, "What I did was

stupid and it was wrong and I am paying the price for that now, period."63

He

claims that he “fell in” with people who were more radical than he was, but law

enforcement officials claim he spearheaded the group’s radicalization efforts.64

According to Mitchell Silber, executive management director of K2 Intelligence

60

Bilal Haye, “Yousef Al-Khattab, Man Behind Virulent Islamic Website, Grew Up Jewish,” The Brooklyn

Ink, Apr. 23, 2010. (http://thebrooklynink.com/2010/04/23/11041-yousef-al-khattab-man-behind-virulent-

islamic-website-grew-up-jewish/) 61

Ibid. 62

Matt Zapotosky, “New Jersey man sentenced to prison for extremist Islamic Web posts,” The

Washington Post, Apr. 25, 2014. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/new-jersey-man-to-be-

sentenced-for-extremist-islamic-web-posts/2014/04/24/406e65a8-cbc4-11e3-93eb-

6c0037dde2ad_story.html) 63

Dina Temple-Raston, “The Jewish Kid from New Jersey Who Became A Radical Islamist,” NPR, Apr.

25, 2014. (http://www.npr.org/2014/04/25/306533963/the-jewish-kid-from-new-jersey-who-became-a-

radical-islamist) 64

Ibid.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/new-jersey-man-to-be-sentenced-for-extremist-islamic-web-posts/2014/04/24/406e65a8-cbc4-11e3-93eb-6c0037dde2ad_story.html



50

and former NYPD terrorism expert, “Al-Khattab was one of the two leaders of the

group, he was a chief propagandist, he was an organizer, he was a provocateur."65

Fort Dix Plot

Five men conspired to attack “as many soldiers as possible” at Fort Dix. Three of

the conspirators were brothers—Dritan Duka, Shain Duka and Eljvir Duka. They

are ethnically Albanian from the former Yugoslavia and operate a roofing business

in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. The Duka family lived in the United States illegally.66

The other two conspirators include Eljvir’s brother in-law Mohamad Ibrahib

Shnewer and Serdar Tatar, a Turk.67

One other individual, namely Agron

Abdullahu, was accused of aiding and abetting the Duka brothers’ illegal

possession of weapons.

The five conspirators went to a shooting range in Pennsylvania’s Poconos

Mountains and recorded video of them firing assault weapons, calling for jihad

and yelling “God is great” in Arabic.68

One member of the group took the

videotape to a retail store to have it converted to a DVD. The store employees

alerted the FBI, who then infiltrated the group with a confidential witness.69

The

confidential witness convinced the conspirators that he can get them the weapons

they need to carry out the attack on Fort Dix. Dritan Duka and Shain Duka were

65

Ibid. 66

John Appezzato, “Father of Fort Dix suspects arrested on immigration charges,” NJ.com, May 10, 2007.

(http://blog.nj.com/ledgerupdates/2007/05/father_of_fort_dix_suspects_ar.html) 67

“Plans to attack US Fort Dix base uncovered; one of the plotters a Turk,” Hürriyet, May 9, 2007.

(http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/6484033_p.asp) 68

Dale Russakoff and Dan Eggen, “Six Charged in Plot To Attack Fort Dix,” The Washington Post, May 9,


“Five Radical Islamists Charged with Planning Attack on Fort Dix Army Base in New Jersey,” United

States Department of Justice, May 8, 2007.

(http://web.archive.org/web/20070616223143/http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/press/files/pdffiles/duka0508r

el.pdf)

http://blog.nj.com/ledgerupdates/2007/05/father_of_fort_dix_suspects_ar.html

http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/6484033_p.asp


http://web.archive.org/web/20070616223143/http:/www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/press/files/pdffiles/duka0508rel.pdf


51

arrested as they attempted to purchase AK-47s and M-16s as previously arranged

with the witness. The four others were arrested the same day.70

70

Christine Hauser and Anahad O’Connor, “6 Arrested in Plot to Attack Fort Dix,” The New York Times,

May 8, 2007. (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/08/us/08cnd-dix.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0)

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/08/us/08cnd-dix.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

52

PART FOUR: CONCLUSION

Main Findings

The Muslim population in New Jersey certainly has some radical elements, but it

is by and large moderate and not connected to terrorism. Passaic, Essex and

Hudson counties tend to have the largest Muslim communities in the state. These

counties are located in northern New Jersey and are in close proximity to New

York City. Muslims in New Jersey are largely Sunni, though there are also Shia,

Sufi and non-denominational communities as well.

In this report, 98 mosques were examined. The ones worthy of interest are the

Islamic Society of Monmouth County, the Islamic Center of Jersey City and the

Islamic Center of Passaic County. The Islamic Society of Monmouth County was

mentioned previously for its imam being a vocal Hamas supporter.71

The imam of

the Islamic Center of Passaic County is an alleged former member of Hamas.72

The Islamic Center of Jersey City has a history of ties to radical Islam, with an

imam stating in 2000 that "jihad is an absolute obligation upon those whose land

has been occupied, and all Muslims have to stand together to repulse the enemy."73

The largest terrorist attack to affect to New Jersey was 9/11. The most direct

connection to the attacks is United Airlines Flight 93, which departed from

Newark International Airport. However, many New Jersey residents work in New

York City and most of those killed in 9/11 perished there. Aside from massive

attacks like 9/11, New Jersey has had homegrown extremists such as those who

conspired in the Fort Dix plot and others who leave the country with ties to al-

71

Ryan Mauro, “Islamic Society of Monmouth County,” The Clarion Project, Apr. 2, 2013.

(http://www.clarionproject.org/analysis/islamic-society-monmouth-county) 72


(http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/topstories/index.ssf/2008/05/paterson_muslim_leader_fights.html) 73


(http://www.investigativeproject.org/case/404)




53

Shabaab and al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. In all, New Jersey has some

radical elements, but the vast majority of the community is peaceful and does not

adhere to the extreme Salafi-jihadi ideology. There is no trend of radicalization

that can be determined at this time, but it is important that we keep our eyes open.

54

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